LVCC Upgrade Delayed, Biz As Usual For CES

By Steve Smith -- TWICE, 10/21/2008

Las Vegas — Construction scheduling changes at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) will not affect operations at the 2009 International CES, as previously expected, according to the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), producer of CES.

Karen Chupka, events and conferences senior VP for the CEA, told TWICE that plans now call for external utilities for the LVCC to be performed starting in November and will have minimal effect on CES operations.

Originally the plan was to restructure the South Hall lobby and main entrance of the LVCC, among other changes. Rescheduling has been pushed off to 2009 and “may not affect the 2010 CES either,” Chupka said here at the CEA Fall Forum on Monday.

In discussingCES 2009, she commented on how the weakened economy may affect the show, saying economic conditions may make some not attend CES.

For those who feel CES is vital every year, CEA is continuing to “work with local hotels to lower rates during the show ... and some have helped us.”

Earlier in the year, CEA set aside $1 million in funding “for some smaller retailers, through buying groups and other retail organizations, to get them to the show.”

Through retail buying groups and retail organizations, Chupka said, independent retailers who attend for two nights will get a one-night hotel stay for free and will get $100 off on flights to Las Vegas.

“We feel that when retailers closely look at how much it costs to attend CES and how many suppliers they can see in one trip, we feel that plays in our favor,” Chupka said.

While not wanting to divulge too much before CEA’s annual media briefing in New York on Nov. 11, Chupka did said that CES would be “as green if not more” than the 2008 show where the event was more environmentally friendly than ever before.

NBC Universal, Sony Pictures and private meetings with more content providers will appear at CES 2009, Chupka said. There should also be more wireless technologies on display in January, as well as more video game accessory products, as well as Xbox and PlayStation.

The Kids@Play section of the show that debuted this year will continue, along with technology for the baby boomer generation — the Silver Summit — will make its debut.

As previously reported, the Technology and Emerging Countries program will be expanded with Intel chairman Craig Barrett and Cisco chairman and CEO John Chambers as keynoters. As part of this program the United Nations is holding a Global Initiative Meeting during the event.